From the Parsons move to predict the Rockets transaction timeline of the next few months

How are we signing Melo without trading Asik and Lin away?

 

Your original post just said that if the Rockets are going after Rondo, then the Lin and Asik will be dealt. No mention of "if the Rockets aren't getting Rondo, Lin and Asik will still be dealt" but rather a mention of Napier instead.

I'm just trying to clear it up.

 

Rondo isn't going anywhere, Love will be a Celtic. I think Asik will be a Celtic as well.

 

If we are truly going to try and use cap space to acquire a high priced free agent like Anthony then we'll likely either trade our #1 pick or we'll select a player that is currently under contract overseas as that wouldn't add any additional salary to our cap.

If we were to select a player such as Napier then he would immediately count against our cap and further reduce the amount that we could offer Anthony.

Of course if we went for a player with a lower salary or lower max then it wouldn't be an issue. Ditto if we can acquire a FA via a trade.

 

if this happens, then just like that the C's make it to at least the semi's

 

I think the Rockets are first going to try to trade for Kevin Love on draft night, if they fail... then I think they'll switch their focus to Carmelo Anthony in free agency.

But yeah, Asik and Lin will be gone by July....

If Boston get's Love I can see them taking on Asik, giving them a nice front line of Asik and Love. We'll probably need to attach a first rounder or a young player to get a team like Utah to take on Lin's contract.

 

I thought a team could only have one player on a 5 year contract (The Rockets have Harden).

 

No on Rondo...a Big No on Napier and a BIGGER NO on Melo

 

Love will be traded to the Celtics for their lottery pick, Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger and filler. Thus, Rondo will not be traded.

Asik will be traded for a slightly protected lottery pick next year like the Lowry Trade.

Melo will choose us in free agency and the Knicks will try a sign and trade. Lin, the pick from the Asik deal, our first round pick for next year, other draft picks and money for Melo and filler.

Sign Parsons to a 8-10 million per year contract.

Sign some veterans who are looking for a ring to vet mins at the point guard and power forward spots. Some players like Shawn Marion, Aaron Brooks (x4 lol), Kirk Hinrick or Jason Smith.

 

Why would we trade Asik to the Celtics for if we aren't pursuing Rondo?

 

He's got to go somewhere if the Rockets are going to sign another max player.

 

We can't sign Melo with cap space unless he takes a paycut or we dump everyone not named Howard or Harden. If Melo is the target, it'll be a S&T.

With that understanding, my expectation is this:

Draft night: Attempt to make a trade for a third start (Love, Rondo, or similar). If that doesn't work, trade the 1st rounder for a pick in 2015.

Moratorium: Work out trade scenatios in principle with other teams to take Lin and Asik for cap space. Meanwhile, woo Melo for a S&T, and other lesser lights for a free agency offer.

First week of free agency: If an S&T for Melo can be hammered out, execute on that trade. Otherwise, if another high-priced free agent has agreed to sign, execute on Lin/Asik trades and sign that free agent. If no other high-dollar free agent agrees to sign, keep Lin and Asik.

Second week of free agency: Match whatever offer Parsons signed.

Thereafter: Trade Asik for a good player. Keep or trade Lin for an asset. Use MLE to sign 1-2 role-players.

 

I disagree with the original post.

 

I think if it were for a first round pick down the road Morey would do it

 

I think Asik will be gone, but Lin will still be here. Les loves him too much.

 

If Melo signs it'd make McHale's job the easiest - ISO and ISO:grin:

 

That's interesting but we're going to have to get back some junk salary with Asik to make the Melo deal. Got to have around $15 million of salary. I suppose we could take Bogans if somehow Boston crawls out of the Love trade with a pick. And then after the mandatory 2 month wait we could combine Lin and Bogans and some other salary into a deal for Melo.

But I really don't think that's what is going to go down.

I think Morey has a deal for Lin he's ready to pull the trigger on. That may be trading Lin plus Asik plus #25 for pure cap space to a team like Utah or Philly or it could be by trading Lin plus cash and the #25 pick and possibly DMo or some other asset to a team that will send us back a decent player on a longer term deal like say Afflalo.....a player that Morey knows he can trade away. With that deal in his back pocket he can approach Phil Jackson about a sign-and-trade deal for Melo if Melo opts out. That will likely occur after and during the July Moratorium. However, if Morey has his Lin deal in his back pocket then he could approach Flip at the draft...especially if it is a granddaddy deal for #25, plus whatever picks he can get for Asik, plus pick swap rights in 15, 17, and 19, and picks in 16 and 18, plus whatever young talent he wants to throw in there. If Flip walks away from that deal then our pursuit of Love will have officially ended as we go ahead and move forward with the next phase of pursuing Melo in free agency after the Moratorium.

 

If we trade Asik alone, it will only be 8.3 million that needs to come back, as that what Asik cost against the salary cap. Asik is owed 15 million but he only counts for 8.3 million. If we trade both Lin and Asik to the same team, then we would need around 15 million and who probably have to take some junk back.

If anything we might have to add more value if we trade either Lin or Asik, especially Lin. Asik might be enough to be traded on his own, if a team likes his well enough.

And with Parson's option declined and all signs pointing to resigning him, there is no waiting around for Melo. We need to get Melo or whoever we are chasing this offseason.